Packing for the Conference

What should you pack?

Dress casual! Dress comfortable! Slacks/pants/jeans, long sleeve/short sleeve, think comfort!
Dressing in layers may help you be more comfortable. The temperatures are hard to predict and often vary depending on where you are and what you are doing.

Suggested items to pack:
A warm jacket, sweater/sweatshirt, etc.
Rain jacket, umbrella, shoes to wear in rainy weather
Comfortable shoes for everyday
Bug spray and sun screen

* We will be spending lots of time in the dog kennel. Make sure you bring boots or shoes appropriate for helping with the chores and wandering around the kennel. Some people bring muck boots or knee high rubber boots, which are great for rainy weather and chores at the kennel. We’ll be going on early morning walks through damp wooded area with the puppies in the morning. Bring what you’ll be comfortable wearing for this situation.

BRING YOUR CAMERA! Bring extra camera batteries or buy some when you get to Alaska. You will have endless opportunities to take photographs. If you use a digital camera, you might want to bring extra memory cards. You will want to take as many pictures as you can to use in your classroom and to remember your experiences.

If you collect autographs, there will be plenty of opportunities for that, too!

For our conference:
Are you interested in sharing how you currently use Iditarod in the classroom? If so, bring pictures, lesson samples, or a handout for workshop participants if you would like share, or simply share your ideas with us during our discussion times. Taking time to share and collaborate is a very important part of our conference, so if you have something to share, please do!

For our conference, Team Building Activity!
BRING THIS WITH YOU TO ALASKA!

One of our special activities is designed to help us get to know you and for all of us to learn more about time and place.

Please bring one item for each participant or one item that the group can share— that helps us get to know you and/or where you are from. See the example ideas below.

Examples:

If you are from a coastal area, you could bring a sea shell for each person

If you play the guitar, you could give each participant a guitar pic.

If golf is your favorite sport, present each participant with a golf ball or a golf tee.

To teach about your state or your school, you could present each participant with: a pin or button from your city/state, or a pencil with your school logo on it, a bumper sticker with the school logo, a city or state map,

YOU COULD bring one thing for everyone to share…. For example, if you are from Florida, a Key Lime pie would be delicious treat for all of us to share.

This item shouldn’t cost you much money and it is meant as a way to share about you and/or your location. From this, we will be doing a project and making connections.

AN EMPTY SUITCASE if you like to shop! (Many of our workshop participants buy a suitcase or mail items home!) Another words, pack light if you like to shop! Check air line regulations about luggage, however, you might want to mail a box from Alaska back to your home.

Bring questions you’d like to answer or topics you’d like to know about! We will help you learn all you want to learn so that this workshop is a BEST EVER opportunity!

Don’t worry if you forget something! There are PLENTY of places to shop in Alaska!

What to Wear?

Dress casual! There is no need to bring dress up clothes unless you really want to go out and be fancy! Even if you do want to do that, casual is still often the norm!

Dress for the weather and/or for your own comfort!

If you get cold easily and don’t like being cold, bring a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket to add a layer.

As system of layering might help you because it is often cooler in the evening and mornings, and nicer in the afternoon. The temperature is different depending on where you are during the day. It might be warmer in Anchorage than it is in Wasilla.

Wear comfortable shoes. We will be doing some walking or light hiking, so you will want to have appropriate shoes! Walking around in the dog yard requires every day shoes, nothing fancy! Taking walks through the woods with the puppies is more fun and safer when you wear appropriate walking shoes.

Bring and wear bug spray and/or sunscreen!

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING TOWELS, SLEEPING BAGS, OR BLANKETS. IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, LIKE A FAVORITE PILLOW, ETC. BRING THAT... IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW OR BRING ESSENTIAL ITEMS.